Panel 17. Gods of the Modern World - The Epic of American Civilization 1934

Jose Clemente Orozco painted this fresco, Panel 17. Gods of the Modern World, as part of The Epic of American Civilization, using traditional fresco techniques of layering pigments on wet plaster. The mural’s stark imagery depicts academic figures as skeletons, presiding over a scene of death and decay. Orozco's fresco technique—painting directly onto the wall—integrates the artwork with the architecture, making it an unavoidable part of the viewer’s physical space. This process, demanding both speed and precision, underscores the urgency of Orozco’s message. The mural critiques institutionalized knowledge and the social structures that perpetuate it. The skeletal figures, adorned in academic robes, symbolize the death of true learning and the ossification of intellectual pursuits. By depicting the figures as skeletons, Orozco highlights the ways in which academia can become disconnected from the realities of human experience, serving instead to uphold oppressive systems. The intense physical labor required for fresco painting mirrors the labor and struggle of the oppressed, whose suffering is often ignored by those in power. It’s a potent reminder of the social responsibilities of art, and the importance of challenging established norms.